2008 BMW 3 Series Lighting Problems

Recently had to replace a failed bulb in my 2008 BMW 328i, during the replacement i noticed crumbling insulation within the plastic headlight compartment - basically all i had to do was touch the headlight wires lightly and insulation would crumble and flake off - this insulation is badly degraded, probably made out of improper materials and could potentially pose a hazard if the wires inside were to short out due to lack of insulation. I was able to carefully slip some insulative sleeves around the failed insulation wire to effect a temporary fix (which i don't really trust) BMW should recall and replace this dangerous wiring.

AFTER DRIVING UP TO 75MPH AT HWY, I PARKED MY CAR AT PARKING LOT AND 15 MINUTES LATER , SOMEONE NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE'S SMOKE COMING OUT FROM MY ENGINE BAY. I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE HOOD AND THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS ON FIRE ALSO SPREAD TO THE HEAT SHIELD (ATTACHED TO THE HOOD). I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISED THE FIRE BUT THE TOP PART OF THE HEADLIGHT MELTED THRU THE WIRES. I READ THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS HEADLIGHT AND WANT TO KNOW IF BMW HAS RECALLED THIS LIGHT. I LOOKED IT UP AND THE PART ITSELF COST AROUND $1,100 PLUS LABOR. IF THIS IS A DEFECT, BMW SHOULD REPLACED THIS PART AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER.

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE INSULATION SLEEVES ON THE HEADLIGHT WIRING FLAKING OFF. I WITNESSED SHORT CIRCUITS AND SPARKS WHILE SIGNALING AND DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALL THE WIRES ARE ALREADY CLOSE TO EACHOTHER AND NOW THE INSULATION IS COMPLETELY OFF CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD AND FIXING THIS MYSELF IS IMPOSSIBLE AS WELL AS COSTING OVER 1200 DOLLARS JUST TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHTS.

I HAVE A 2008 BMW 335I, AND RECENTLY I NOTICED SOMETHING THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AND IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD AS WELL. INSIDE OF THE SEALED HEADLIGHT HOUSING, IS A WIRE HARNESS THAT'S USED TO POWER THE HEADLIGHTS. THAT HARNESS HAS SEVERAL WIRES COMING OUT OF IT, AND EACH ONE OF THOSE WIRES HAS A PROTECTIVE COLORED INSULATED COATING THAT DISTINGUISHES THE WIRES FROM ONE ANOTHER, SUCH AS POWER, GROUND, ETC. WELL, EVERY SINGLE WIRE THAT COMES OUT OF THAT HARNESS IS CRACKED AND MISSING SECTIONS OF INSULATION ALL TOGETHER, WHICH EXPOSES THE COPPER WIRES UNDERNEATH. THIS IS A HUGE FIRE SAFETY ISSUE, AND UPON RESEARCHING IT I NOTICED DOZENS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. I HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF HEADLIGHTS AND NOW IT IS VERY APPARENT AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THE WIRES INSIDE THERE ARE TOUCHING AND KEEP SHORTING OUT MY HEADLIGHTS. I'VE ATTACHED A PICTURE SHOWING THAT I'VE EVEN HAD TO STICK A PIECE OF ELECTRICAL TAPE IN THERE AS AN EFFORT TO TRY AND AVOID A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. HOPEFULLY THIS IS TAKEN A BIT MORE SERIOUSLY BY BMW AND THEY ARE MOTIVATED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE ANYTHING TRAGIC OCCURS.

THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM ON A TON OF BMW VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH BMW'S ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT TECHNOLOGY. NOT ONLY IS IT A HUGE PROBLEM ON THE CARS, BUT IS A DANGER TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF SAID BMW. THE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS WILL MOVE AS THE CAR MOVES (LEFT/RIGHT AND UP/DOWN). THESE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A MECHANISM IN THEM THAT CONTROL THE MOVEMENT AND IT BREAKS QUITE OFTEN ESPECIALLY ON BUMPY ROADS. BMW DEALERSHIPS WILL SAY "YOU HIT A POT HOLE AND THE LIGHT MECHANISM BROKE. YOU WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY AND IT COST $1800". THIS WOULD BE OK IF IT DIDN'T ENDANGER OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD AND THE ACTUAL DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF SAID CAR. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL JAM TO EITHER THE STRAIGHT UP POSITION. THIS IS JAMMED SO FAR UP THAT IT LIGHTS THE ROOF IN MY GARAGE AND I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. THEY ALSO JAM ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT, ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT, AND STRAIGHT DOWN DEPENDING ON WHEN THE MECHANISM FAILS. THIS MEANS THAT DRIVERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD CAN BE COMPLETELY BLINDED AND COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT BY LOOKING AWAY FROM THE ROAD. THIS ALSO CAUSES A HUGE ISSUE FOR THE DRIVER OF THE CAR AS YOU CAN'T SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF YOU. MY PREVIOUS CAR (INFINITI G35 COUPE) HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE EXCEPT NISSAN HAD THE PROJECTS AIMED TO HIGH FROM THE FACTORY. THIS WAS A HUGE RECALL AND FORCED NISSAN TO REISSUE FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS. BMW WILL NOT BUDGE ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. FROM RESEARCH ONLINE I AM 1 OF THOUSANDS THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE AND BMW HAS NOT RECOGNIZED IT. I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A ISSUE THAT IS CLEARLY A ENGINEERING QA ISSUE AND IS ALSO RISKING MY LIFE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND PUTTING ON COMING MOTORIST IN DANGER AS WELL. ANY HELP WITH THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

HIGH BEAMS NO LONGER CAN BE RELIED UPON TO STAY ON. DASH LIGHT SAYS THEY ARE ON, BUT THEY AREN'T. THEY WILL STAY ON FOR ABOUT 30 TO 40 SECONDS THEN GO TO LOW BEAM ONLY. *TR

I WAS ON I95 NORTH, HEADLIGHT WIPER SYSTEM BLEW-OUT THE HEADLIGHT WASHER DEVICE DURING USE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER FRONT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

RECALL CAMPAIGN LAMPS IN REAR QUARTER PANEL. LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME. TOOK INTO BMW PASSPORT TO FIX. THEY CHARGED ME 277.75 TO FIX AND NOW WITH A RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE THEY ARE NOT REIMBURSING ME. I HAVE RECEIPTS OF REPAIR, ALSO RECALL NOTICE AND DATE I TOOK IN, THEIR OWN RECEIPT SHOWS NO FIXING AS TAKEN CARE OF EARLIER WHEN THEY CHARGED ME $277.75. HELP! *TR